22 CFR §121.1 Category V
USML Category V: Explosives and Energetic Materials, Propellants, Incendiary Agents, and Their Precursors
USML Category V covers explosives formulated for military applications, solid and liquid propellants for military rockets and missiles, pyrotechnic compositions, incendiary agents, and specific chemical precursors used in their manufacture. The category distinguishes between commercially available explosives (which may be EAR-controlled) and military-specification formulations designed for weapons applications.
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Founder, ITAR Screen
Trenton is the founder of ITAR Screen and Gideon Dynamics. He built ITAR Screen to give defense contractors and dual-use exporters fast, auditable USML classification and denied-party screening without the complexity of enterprise compliance platforms.
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Coverage
What Category V covers
USML Category V covers explosives formulated for military applications, solid and liquid propellants for military rockets and missiles, pyrotechnic compositions, incendiary agents, and specific chemical precursors used in their manufacture. The category distinguishes between commercially available explosives (which may be EAR-controlled) and military-specification formulations designed for weapons applications.
Common controlled items
- Military high explosives: RDX (cyclonite), HMX, PETN, TNT in military formulations
- Composite solid rocket propellants (HTPB, AP-based formulations for military use)
- Thermite and thermate incendiary compositions
- Military detonators, blasting caps, and initiating systems
- Shaped charge liners and penetrators for warhead applications
- Military-specification pyrotechnic illuminants and infrared decoy flares
- Ammonium perchlorate oxidizers produced above specified purity levels
EAR / ECCN
EAR overlap
Commercial blasting explosives, black powder, and some pyrotechnic compositions are controlled under EAR at ECCN 1C011 or 1C018. Military-specific formulations — particularly those meeting military specifications for brisance, velocity of detonation, or sensitivity — are ITAR-controlled regardless of commercial availability.
Licensing
Typical license requirements
DSP-5 licenses are required. Explosives exports also require compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) hazardous materials regulations and may require State Department review of end-use certificates to prevent diversion to unauthorized weapons programs.
Regulations
Key citations
22 CFR §121.1 Category V22 CFR §123 — Export Licenses49 CFR — DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations
Always verify against the current version of the USML (22 CFR Part 121) on the eCFR. ITAR Screen classifications are versioned against the USML reference at the time of the call.
Primary sources
- DDTC — 22 CFR Parts 120–130 (ITAR)
Official ITAR text administered by the State Dept. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
- BIS — 15 CFR Parts 730–774 (EAR)
Export Administration Regulations, including the Commerce Control List (CCL)
- OFAC — Sanctions Programs and Country Information
Current SDN list, blocked persons, and active U.S. Treasury sanctions programs
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